Thomas Jefferson High School

Tower Engineering Inc. provided HVAC, Electrical, Technology, Plumbing and Fire Protection engineering services for the West Jefferson Hills School District – New Thomas Jefferson High School. This new three-story, 272,000 SF building consists of core spaces such as classrooms, library, cafeteria, and administrative spaces. The Arts Education wing features a 1,000-seat auditorium, TV studio, and large group instruction room, along with multiple art and tech ed classrooms. The Physical Education wing supports two gymnasiums and a swimming pool, along with multiple locker room facilities.

The HVAC design includes a high efficiency heating plant along with an air-cooled chiller cooling plant – both with variable speed pumping. Rooftop units with hot water heater and chilled water cooling, combined with hot-water fan powered VAV boxes, provide conditioned air throughout the building. A dedicated roof-top unit was designed for the natatorium and a dust collector was provided for the woodshop.

The electrical design included a new underground utility service, natural gas emergency generator, fire alarm system, and lightning protection system. Interior lighting design included dimmable LED fixtures with automatic daylight-responsive lighting controls. Exterior lighting was provided across the expansive site. Technology design included telecommunications cabling, security surveillance and card access. AV systems were provided for the classrooms as well as specialized systems for the large-group instruction room, cafeteria, gymnasium, and natatorium.

The plumbing design includes a central domestic water heater with storage. Some specialties include a grease interceptor for kitchen sanitary waste, solids interceptors for art room sanitary waste, an acid neutralization tank for science classroom sanitary waste, and a compressed air system for the technology education classrooms. The building is protected by a traditional wet fire protection system with standpipes.